Axle stabilizer



C. E. HERMAN AXLE STABILI ZER" May 12, 1925. 1,537,606

Filed April 22-, 192

Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES CLIFTON HERMAN, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

AXLE STABILIZEB.

Application fi1ed'Apri1'22, 1924. SeriaLNo. 708,280.

To (ZZZ whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, CLIFTON E. HERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axle Stabilizers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains, to make and use the same.

It is well known that the front axles of automobiles, connected with the chassis frames thereof, by cantilever springs,.ha-ve a severe oscillating motion about anaxis eX- tending longitudinally of the axle, as the springs yield upwardly and downwardly, during the operation of the machine. Furthermore, when machines of this. char acter are heavily loaded, the springs turn the axle upon the above-named axis, to quite a noticeable extent. Such turning or oscil lation of the front axle, materially inter-. feres with steering and thus makesdriving very tiresome, particularly on rather long trips. It is however, the object ofmy invention to provide novel means for stabilizing the front axle against undesirable movements, so that the previous difliculties are effectively overcome.

lVith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter des -ribed and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure l is an elevation partly in section showing the application of the invention to a recent model of a well known form of automobile.

Figure 2 is a plan viewof the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lug clamped to the rear end, of the spring in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figure at is aview similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating an older model.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lug secured at the rear end of the spring in Fig. 4.

In Figs, 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates a chassis frame, to which is secured a bracket '2 having a horizontal ledge 3 upon which the rear end of a cantilever spring AL is secured, by means of an ordinary bolt 5 and a U-bolt 6. The front end of the spring 4 is secured by a front bolt 7 and a rear U-bolt 8, upon a spring seat 9 formed on the front axle 10, all of this construction being common, with the difficulties above pointed out with regard to oscillation of the axle 10. To overcome this difiiculty, I provide the construction described below.

A substantially vertical spring 11 has its lower end portion disposed in front of the spring 4 and seat 9, said lower portion being bent horizontally rearward as at 12 and secured against the lower side of the seat 9,v

by the bolt 7. Behind this bolt, the spring is preferably bent downwardly as indicated at 13, to bear against the front Side of the axle web. The upper endof the spring 12 is formed with an opening 14 through which the front end of a radius rod 15' passes, the rear end of this rod being pivoted at 16 to alug 17 which may well be secured to the rearend of the spring lt by the U-bolt 6. Nuts 18- are threaded on the rod 15 to abut the front and rear sides. of

the spring 11 and after initially applyingthe spring and rod, these nuts may be adjusted: to place said springunder tension in the desired direction. a

In Fig. 4, 1 designatesthe chassis frame having a different form of spring bracket 2 to which the rear end of the spring a is secured by an ordinary bolt 5 and a. U-bolt,

6. The front end: of this spring rests on a springseat 9 on. the front axle 10, and an ordinary bolt-7 and U-bolt 8 pass entirely through the axle to secure the latter and the spring t together. The lower end of the bolt 7 is utilized to secure the rearwardly bent end 19f of a vertical spring 11 against the lower side of the axle 10. The upper end of the spring 11 is connected in the same manner as above described, with the front end of a radius rod 1. whose rear end is pivoted tov a, lug- 17 which is secured upon front axle and. secured at its rear end to a spring bracket on the chassis frame; a substantially vertical spring secured to said front axle and rising therefrom, a radius rod connected at its front end with the upper end of said substantially vertical spring, and means pivotally mounting the rear end of said radius rod at the rear end of the vehicle spring.

2. In an automobile chassis having a cantilever spring secured at its front end to the front axle and secured at its rear end to a spring bracket on the chassis frame; a sub stantially vertical spring secured to said front axle and rising therefrom, the upper end ofsaid vertical spring having an opening, a radius rod whose front end passes through said opening, adjusting nuts threaded on said rod and engaging the front and rear sides of said vertical spring, and means pivotally mounting the rear end of said radius rod at the rear end of the vehicle spring. 7

8. In an automobile chassis having a front cantilever spring resting at its front end upon the front axle, and means securing said axle and spring together, including a bolt passing through the spring and a part of the axle; a substantially vertical spring at the front side of said axle having a rearwardly bent lower end underlying aportion of said axle and secured against said portion by the aforesaid bolt, a radius rod having its front end connected with the upper end of said vertical spring, and means mounting the rear end of said radius rod at the rear end of the vehicle spring.

4:. In an automobile chassis having a front cantilever spring resting at its front end upon the front'axle, and means securing said axle and spring together, including a bolt passing through the spring and a part of the axle; a substantially vertical spring at the front side of said axle having a rearwardly bent lower end underlying a portion of said axle and secured against said portion by the, aforesaid bolt, the upper end of said vertical spring having an opening, a radius rod whose front end passes through said opening, adjusting nuts threaded on said rod and engaging the front and rear sides of the vertical spring, and means pivotally mounting the rear end of Said radius rod at the rear end of the vehicle spring.

5. A stabilizing attachment for the front axle .of an automobile carried by a cantilever spring, said attachment comprising a substantially vertical spring adapted at its lower end to be secured to the axle, a radius rod connected with the upper end of said spring, and means for pivotally mounting the rear end of said radius rod at the rear end of the vehicle spring. j

6. A stabilizing attachment for the front axle of an automobile carried by a cantilever spring, said attachment comprising a substantially vertical spring adapted at its lower end to be secured to the axle, the upper end of said spring having an openin a radius rod whose front end passes 23) through said opening, adjusting nuts threaded on said radius rod in engagement with the front and rear sides of the spring, and means for pivotally mounting the rear end of said radius rod at the rear end of the vehicle spring.

7. A stabilizing device for a front automobile axle carried by a cantilever spring, said device comprising a substantially verticle spring having its lower end bent rearwardly and adapted to be secured against the lower side of a part of the axle, a radius rod connected with the upper end of said spring and extending rearwardly therefrom, and means for pivotally mounting the rear end of said radius rod at the rear end of the vehicle spring.

8. A stabilizing device for a front automobile axle carried by a cantilever spring, said device comprising a Substantially vertical spring having its lower end bent rearwardly and adapted to be secured against the lower side of a part of the axle, the upper end of said spring having an opening, a radius rod passing through said opening, adjusting nuts threaded on said rod at the front and rear sides of the spring, and means for nivotally mounting the rear end of said radius rod at the rear end of the vehicle spring.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CLIFTON E. HERMAN. 

